Whilst Emmanuel House Support Centre is temporarily closed for face-to-face contact, the Night Shelter continues to offer support and accommodation for up to 40 people. 

They are also preparing for a rise in demand of their support services, following the pandemic, as a consequence of the illness will result in an increase in numbers of homeless people, mental health needs and employment uncertainty. 

Homeless, vulnerable and isolated adults are being hit particularly hard by the Coronavirus outbreak. In order to continue to support their clients, they are delivering a service in a number of ways, including; 

• Telephone helpline providing support for incoming questions and queries from our service users. 
• Wellbeing checks for clients, ensuring service users are supported with any issues.
• Daily phone calls to high-risk and high-need clients.
• Weekly phone check-ins with women in the Womanuel Group.
• Practical and emotional support for beneficiaries who are struggling with being in isolation. For example, they are arranging food parcel deliveries from local food banks, prescription deliveries and mental health signposting.
• The Night Shelter has moved to a hotel where they are providing 24-hour support and facilitating the isolation of guests in individual rooms. 

They are currently providing 24-hour support for 40 guests to ensure they are able to follow the self-isolation guidelines in their own individual rooms. The hotel is being staffed by Night Shelter and Emmanuel House staff for 24 hours a day, with shifts split into morning, afternoon and overnight. 

Day-to-day running of the shelter includes: 

• Carrying out wellbeing checks on guests in their rooms.
• Providing food and hot drinks – guests are provided with three meals a day, which are being provided by the hotel catering staff and funded by Night Shelter funds. Meals are taken to the doors and then collected by guests contactlessly. 
• Facilitating guests with benefit queries, helping them to apply for Universal Credit and linking up with other support services. 
• Offering practical advice about which local chemists are still open near the hotel so prescriptions can be transferred there.
• Daily visits from homeless health team visits to provide its usual health support, alongside dealing with any health concerns related to Coronavirus. 

As a result of cancelled fundraising, sporting and entertainment events, along with regular corporate donors unable to support them during this time of uncertainty, Emmanuel House has been presented with a financial challenge. At this time, the support they offer is more important than ever.